Composite polymer particles containing bismuth vanadate particles for self-cleaning fabrics

The aim of this research was to prepare composite polymer particles containing bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) particles through microsuspension iodine transfer polymerization (ms ITP) for fabric coating as a self-cleaning fabric. To reduce the aggregation of pristine BiVO4 particles during the fabric coating process, composite polymer particles containing the visible-light-driven photocatalyst as BiVO4 particles in self-cleaning fabric applications were investigated in the first time. First, BiVO4 particles were prepared via an aqueous chelating method where the stable precursor solutions of Bi3+ and V5+ with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ligand were obtained. After calcination at 500 degrees C, the BiVO4 particles were obtained. To disperse them well in an oil (monomer) phase in ms ITP, the BiVO4 surface was modified by oleic acid as o-BiVO4 to present a hydrophobic surface. The encapsulation efficiency of the o-BiVO4 (>= 60%) in composite poly(methylmethacrylate-divinylbenzene) (P[MMA-DVB]/o-BIVO) particles was significantly higher than that (approximate to 10%) of the pristine BiVO4 particles. Using polyethylene glycol 30 dipolyhydroxystearate (DPHS) as a porogen, porous P(MMA-DVB)/o-BiVO4 particles still maintaining their spherical shape were obtained with an 8% particle of DPHS. Furthermore, increasing the hydrophilic polymer shell by adding 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in the oil phase of ms ITP, the P(MMA-DVB-HEMA)/o-BiVO4 particles showed a much higher methylene blue (MB) degradation rate under visible light for 1 h (24 mg MB/g BiVO4 or 96% MB degradation) than that (13 mg MB/g BiVO4 or 52% MB degradation) of the pristine BiVO4. Moreover, the fabric coated with porous P(MMA-DVB-HEMA)/o-BiVO4 particles showed a satisfactory self-cleaning property.

Automated summary

This research aimed to prepare composite polymer particles containing bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) particles for fabric coating as a self-cleaning fabric using microsuspension iodine transfer polymerization (ms ITP). By modifying the surface of BiVO4 particles, increasing the polymer shell, and using a porogen, the encapsulation efficiency and degradation rate under visible light were improved, achieving satisfactory self-cleaning property for the coated fabric.